Manufacture of thread or the like



June 1939- w. KNEBuscH ET! AL v2,152,728

MANUFACTURE OF THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1, 1936 INVENTOR WALTER F. KNEBUSCH 8%DEN H 'BURKHOLDER ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES- 2,162,728 MANUFACTURE OF THREAD OR THE LIKE Walter F. Knebusch and Alden H. Burkholder,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1936, Serial no. 61,955

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of artificial silk thread or the like; more particular ly, to methods of twisting the thread or the The present application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 7,114, entitled Manufacture of artificial silk, filed February -18, 1935, by Walter F. Knebusch and Alden H. Burkholder, in which is shown, described and claimed a form of apparatus suitable for the continuous processing of artificial silk thread or the like. On such apparatus, the thread or the like, which may, for example, be multiple filament artificial silk thread manufactured by the viscose process, is temporarily stored on each of a plurality of thread-storage, thread-advancing devices disposed in vertically stepped arrangement.

Processing treatment is applied to the thread or the like on each of said thread-storage devices.

0n the last thread-storage device, the thread is go dried, after which it is immediately twisted.

Among other things, certain methods of twisting the thread or the like which are outlined but not specifically claimed in the above-identified application comprise the subject matter of the present application.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is 'an end elevation with parts broken away of a portion of the apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned application, the same embodying a series of vertically stepped thread-storage, thread-advancing devices "with the associated twisting mechanism. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation'of a thread-storage, threadadvancing device adapted for use in the step of 5 drying the thread or the like. Figure 3 is a corresponding end elevation. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation corresponding generally to that of Figure 2 of atom of thread-storage, thread-advancing device which may be used to advantage 0 in the wet processing of the thread or the like.

In the apparatus of Figure 1, the thread I passes in sequence to each of a plurality of thread-storage, thread-advancing devices of which three, bearing reference numerals 2, 3 and 4, are shown. Onthese devices, the thread or the like is continuously but temporarily sZored while being'subjected to processing treatrnentf Thus on thread-storage, thread-advancing device 2 a liquid processing operation such as bleaching may be performed on the thread or the like; on thread-storage, thread-advancing device 3, the thread or the like may be washed; while onthread-,storag e, thread-advancing device ,4, the thread or the like may be dried, as by the appli- 66 cation thereto of a suitable drying medium, such as heated air. After leaving the thread-storage device on which it is dried, the thread or the like is immediately twisted, as by cap-twister 5 disposed directly below the discharge end of the.

thread-storage, thread-advancing device 4.

The twisting operation is thus performed while the thread or the like is still warm .from the drying operation, being ordinarily, but not necessarily, characterized in this condition by less than its? normal regain moisture content. The normal regain moisture content may be defined as the normal percentage'of moisture in the thread or b the like on a basis of weight of moisture to the weight of the thread or the like in the bone dry condition: in viscose thread or the like, for instance, the normal regain moisture content is in the neighborhood of 10-42%. It has been found that twisting the thread pr the like while still warm has the advantage that the thread or the like takes and holds the twist more readily.

The thread-storage, thread-advancing devices may take the form of thread-storage, threadadvancing reels of the types shown in Figures 2,

3 and 4.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the reel therein shown comprises two generally cylindrical members 6- and 1. Member 6, which may be termed the concentric member, comprises a drum-like member mounted with its axis concentric with that of the drive shaft 8 and provided at its periphery with a plurality of integral, longitudinally extending bar members 9. Member 1, which maybe termed the eccentric" member, is mounted with its axis slightly offset from and inclined to that of member ii; Member 1 is comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending bar members H which are equal in number to those of member 6 and alternately disposed therewith. 'Bar' members'l I may be supported in any suitable manner, such as that shown, in which they are supported from one end by being clamped between outer and inner ringlike' members {2 and. I3 which are respectively externally and internally tapered and held to-.

gether as by' screws [4. r

' Within inner ring-likermember IS a sleeve l5 may be concentrically mounted, by means of which the eccentric member 'lmay' be rotatably mounted on frame, member IS in the desired offset and inclined relationship to member 6.

The reel of Figures 2 and 3 is adapted to supply a gaseous processing medium, such. as heated air, to the thread or the like stored on the reel. As can be seen, the processing medium issupplied to the interior of the reel through the drive shaft 8,

which is made hollow and is provided with ports I'I communicating with the chambered interior iii of reel member 6, Holes IS in the walls of the chamber portion l8 of the reel communicate with the exterior of the reel, the holes l9 being preferably positioned in the slots between the bar members 9 and reel member 5. If desired, the end of the chamber portion l8 may be closed by a disc or cover 2| held in place by plug bolt 22. The

form spaced substantially helical turns which progress axially along the reel toward its discharge end. Since a reel of this type is openended; i, e., supported at one end only, important advantages are provided in threading up or starting the thread or the like on the reel. For convenience, the reel may be described as being of cantilever form, by which is meant that its free end is devoidof shaft extension, support or the like.

The reel of Figure 4 is of generally the same type as that of Figures 2 and 3, but differs therefrom in that no provision is made for applying the processing medium from the, interior of the reel. The drive shaft 8a may therefore be solid, as shown in Figure 4. The reel member 6.. may

:be mounted on the drive shaft by meansof a key 24 and a nut 25 which nut locates reel member 5 longitudinally against a. shoulder on the drive shaft, as shown. Since this reel is of substantially the same type as that previously de.

scribed, no detailed description of its operation is necessary.

The reels may be mounted in vertically stepped series and driven in the manner shown, in which the reels are mounted on the front of a housing 21 in which are contained driving gears for the reels. The'drive shaft Ba of each reel is driven by a. gear 28 as through clutch 29which may be provided to disengage each reel from its driving means, ifdesiredi\ The gear "for each reel is driven by gear 3l ounted on shaft 32 which. may extend longitudinally of the machine and drive a plurality of reels in a horizontal series. The shaft 32' is shown as driven from gear 33 mounted thereon through change-gears 34 which are mounted on an adjustable arm 35.

Gears 34 are driven from gear 36 which is mounted for rotation on a short shaft 31 having mounted thereon a gear 38. which is driven by gear 39 fixed for rotation with the drive shaft 4|. Drive shaft 4| may drive all horizontal series of reels in a similar manner and may be driven through gears 42 and 43 by some suitable means, such as a motor. '7 Y Associated with each of the reels on which processing liquid is applied to the thread or the like is reagent distributor 44 supplied by'conduit 45 from which the desired processing liquid may be showered down on the reel below. A collecting trough 4G is provided to collect the processing liquid. The reagent supply conduit 45 and the collecting trough 46 maybe made common to all reels in a horizontal series, in which case advantages as to construction, handling of cam and lever means.

for the cap-twisters may be driven by belts 58 the liquids, etc. result. The drying reel 4 on which the thread or the like may be dried by the application of heated air may be mounted and driven in the same manner as the other reels, provision being made, of course, to supply the drreelylng medium to the thread or the like on each A guide 41 is provided through which the thread or thelike passes from drying reel 4 to cap twister 5. The bobbin-supporting whirl 48 of each cap-twister 5 is mounted on a lifting rail 49 while the stationary spindle shaft 50 is mounted on the spindle rail 5|. Lifting rail 49 is guided in its vertical movement by the spindle lifting rods 52 of which one may be provided at each end of the lifting rail and which slide in guides 53. The lifting rail is reciprocatedvertically by the tension member 54 mounted to wind and unwind from sprocket 55 mounted on the shaft 56. Shaft 56 is given a desired movement by the tension member 51 which is caused to' wind and unwind on sprocket 60 by suitable The rotating whirls 48 from a rapidly rotating cylinder 59, tension equalizers 6| being provided for the belts, if desired.

It has been found that if thread or the like subjected to heated drying medium on reel 4 is twisted immediately thereafter, no subsequent operation for the setting of the twist is required.

In the apparatus herein disclosed, the thread or the like'has an approximately straight travel from drying reel 4 to cap-twister 5, in consequence of which fact the actual twisting of the,

thread or the like takes place at least as far back as the point at which the threador the like is discharged from the reel and perhaps even on the reel itself. within a short distance of the point'at which the thread or the like leaves the reel. Thus'the thread or the like is twisted at substantially the temperature to which it. is heated on reel 4. The advantage that the necessity for a subsequent twist-setting operation is eliminated holds over a wide rangeof moisture contents of the thread or the like: no subsequent twist-setting operation is required for thread or the like which is twisted while heated to a temperature substantially above room temperatures even though its moisture content ranges from bone dry to one in which the thread or the like is appreciably moist; that. is, having a moisture content even substantially above the normal regain moisture content.

The temperatures at which the thread or the like is twisted should, for viscose threads of ordinary deniers and at ordinary spinning speeds, preferably be not below about 140 F., since at temperatures much below this point the twist in the thread or the like is not always set as;

firmly as might be desired. The upper limit of temperature is set by the temperature at whichthe thread Or the like is characterized by lessthan its normal regain moisture content; so that the thread or the like is twisted while in this condition.

It is intendedthat the patent shall cover,

whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is: v

1. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like comprising, in combination, a threadstorage device of cantilever form on which, by the action of the elements thereof, the thread or the like is positively advanced in generally helical form toward the free end of-the device; means for drying the thread or the like on said threadstorage device;,and means disposed directly below the free end of said thread-storage device for twisting the thread or the like immediately after completion of the drying operation.

2. In the viscose process of manufacturing thread or the like, the steps of subjecting the thread or the like to liquid processing treatment, drying the thread or the like, and twisting the thread or the like while it is at a temperature-of at least 140 F., said steps being performed in a continous sequence of operations. 7

3. In the viscose process I of manufacturing thread or the like, the step of twisting the thread or the like at a temperature of at least l40 F.

while containing less than its normal regain moisture content.

4. In the viscose process of manufacturing ,thread or the like, the steps of subjecting the thread or the like to liquid processing treatment: heating the thread or the like to a temperature of at least 140 F. and, without permitting the thread or the like to cool appreciably, twisting the thread or the like, said steps being performed in a continuous sequence of operations.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like comprising, in combinatioma unitary thread storage, thread-advancing device of cantilever form on which, by the action of the elements thereof, the thread or the like is positively advanced in generally helical form toward the free end of the device; means for drying the thread or the like on said thread-storage, threadadvancing device; and apparatus for twisting the thread or the like, said twisting apparatus being so disposed with respect to said thread-storage, thread-advancing device that the thread .or the like is twisted in immediate proximity to the free end of said thread-storage, thread-advancing device.

6. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like comprising, in combination, a unitary thread-storage, thread-advancing device of cantilever form on which, by the action of the elements thereof, the thread or the like is positively advanced in generally helical form toward the free end ofthe device; means for applying heat to the thread or the like on said thread-storage, thread-advancing device; and apparatus for twisting the thread or the like, said twisting apparatus being so disposed with respect to said thread-storage, thread-advancing device that the thread or the like is twisted in immediate proximity to the free end of said thread-storage,

thread-advancing device while still at an elevated temperature.

7. Apparatus for the manufactureof thread or the like comprising, in combination, a unitary thread-storage, thread-advancing device of cantilever form on which, by. the action of the elements thereof the thread or the like is positively advanced in generally helical form toward the free end of the device: means for drying the thread or the like on said thread-storage, thread- I advancing device;- and means diSP Q in close proximity to the free end of said thread-storage. thread-advancing device for collecting the thread or the like in package form.

WALTER 1". KNEBUSCH. ALDEN H. BURKHOLDER. 

